Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme visa

Eligibility snapshot

In general terms, the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers whose role has been nominated by an approved Australian employer. It is generally built around a few moving parts that must line up together: an approved employer nomination for a qualifying occupation, the applicant's skills and work experience for that occupation, and personal criteria that typically include age and English language ability, alongside the usual health and character requirements. The visa is generally available through a few streams. The Direct Entry stream is typically used by people applying from outside Australia or with limited Australian work history, and usually involves a formal skills assessment in the nominated occupation. The Temporary Residence Transition stream is generally for people already working in Australia for their sponsoring employer on an eligible temporary visa, and often relies on that period of sponsored employment rather than a separate skills assessment. A further Labour Agreement stream can apply where the sponsoring employer is covered by a labour agreement with the government. The nomination by the employer and the visa application are typically two separate steps on separate timelines. Which stream fits, which occupation qualifies, and exactly how the age, English, skills and experience thresholds apply are details that change over time and depend heavily on individual facts. Check the official Home Affairs page for current requirements, and a registered practitioner can advise on your circumstances. General information only — what YOUR application needs is a question for a registered practitioner.

Costs

The main government cost is the Visa Application Charge (VAC). For the subclass 186 visa, the base VAC is $4,910 from 1 July 2025. Additional applicants included in the same application (such as a partner or dependent children) generally attract their own additional charges, which differ for adults and for children — check the official page for the current figures. Beyond the VAC, applicants typically budget for ancillary costs that the government charge does not cover. In general terms these can include health examinations, police clearance certificates from relevant countries, and certified translations of any non-English documents. Where a stream or occupation calls for it, there may also be the cost of a skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority and an approved English language test. The combination that applies depends on the stream and the individual's situation. The VAC is a government charge payable to the Department of Home Affairs and is entirely separate from any platform fee or fee charged by a practitioner you choose to engage. Amounts change over time, so confirm the current charges on the official Home Affairs page, and a registered practitioner can advise on the costs likely to apply to your circumstances.

Frequently asked questions